Xavier Becerra Praised Scientology on Video—Then Used Government Power Against Catholic Groups – RedState
After the implosion of California gubernatorial candidate and former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-14), the star of former Biden Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and current California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra is on the rise. A recent Emerson/Inside California Politics poll shows Democrat Becerra leading the governor’s race by 19 percentage points, just ahead of Republican Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer, who are both holding on at 17 percentage points.
God only knows why. Becerra’s record is troubling to say the least. Becerra is linked to the federal corruption investigation involving Gov. Gavin Newsom and Becerra’s former chief of staff and campaign manager, Dana Williamson, and Becerra’s tenure as Joe Biden’s HHS secretary was disastrous, fueling attacks from his fellow candidates, both Democrats and Republicans.
Now, a video raises new concerns about Becerra’s close ties to corruption. In 1997, Becerra, then a congressman, passionately defended the Church of Scientology.
In 1997, Becerra, while a member of the House of Representatives, urged his colleagues to vote for a resolution defending Scientologists in Germany, stating: “Many of my constituents,” he noted, “are members of minority religious groups like the Church of Scientology” and they “deserve this protection.”
In 2000, he spoke at the grand opening of the headquarters of ABLE, a Scientology-affiliated group, praising the organization, saying: “You are reviving Hollywood…you are igniting the spirit and determination of those of us who…have the opportunity to work with ABLE to make life better.” »
Becerra also attended a star-studded gala at the Scientology Hollywood Celebrity Center in 2003 in his official capacity as a representative of the United States.
This renewed attention comes as Becerra continues to rise in the polls.
The Church of Scientology is considered a “religion,” but many of its critics, including former member and actress Leah Remini, consider it a criminal enterprise. Founded in the 1950s by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, it has been a refuge for some Hollywood elites like Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
However, the religion has fallen out of favor in recent times due to exposes, documentaries, reports and allegations of financial mismanagement, extortion and abuse against its members. The fact that some prominent members, such as the wife of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, have disappeared without explanation has also not helped their reputation, particularly in California.
Xavier Becerra is condemning the Church of Scientology after old reports and videos surfaced showing him speaking favorably about the organization during his time in Congress.
📝: Jennifer Wadsworth https://t.co/1BCI9fOOVt
– The San Francisco Standard (@sfstandard) May 18, 2026
But Becerra fights back, indicating that he sees this as something that could potentially harm him.
The Becerra camp defended his actions and described what they called a troubling pattern of deceptive and abusive nature by the Church of Scientology toward its own members, including manipulation of an elected official.
“The Church of Scientology is facing the reckoning it deserves for decades of deception, abuse and coercion,” Becerra campaign spokesman Jonathan Underland told the San Francisco Standard. “It is dishonest to apply what we know today to decisions made in the 1990s and early 2000s, before the truth was made public. In the years since, public figures and elected officials like Becerra have rightly chosen to disengage. And when it comes to this particular organization, Becerra will do what he has always done: take on powerful institutions that prey on Californians.”
Learn more: Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff pleads guilty in federal corruption case linked to Xavier Becerra
Hilton Accuses Taxpayer-Funded CHIRLA of Paying Illegal Immigrants to Canvass for Xavier Becerra
What is overlooked in this review is that while Becerra used his influence to passionately defend questionable organizations like the Church of Scientology, when it came to Christianity and the organizations that espouse it, he used that same influence to attack and make efforts to destroy their work.
While Becerra was California attorney general, he attempted to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to adhere to the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act, even though the organization should have been exempt. As head of HHS, Becerra threatened St. Francis Health Systems’ accreditation for Medicaid and Medicare because the Oklahoma-based hospital maintained an eternal flame in its chapel.
#BREAKING: The federal government has asked a Catholic hospital in Oklahoma to either blow out a sanctuary candle or stop serving elderly, disabled and low-income patients. @BECKETlaw sent a letter to @HHSGov And @CMSGovreminding them of Saint Francis’ right to religious freedom.… pic.twitter.com/nfNf4UJyUx
–LoriWindham (@LoriWindham1) May 3, 2023
Interestingly, he feels the need to defend his judgment regarding supporting the abusive record of the Church of Scientology, but makes no apologies for routinely trampling on the First Amendment rights of other religious organizations, especially if they bear the name of Christ.
Editor’s note: The 2026 midterm elections will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both houses of Congress.
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